OK let me be dumb.... on the radiator supports.... the threaded hole that the hood mounts to goes toward the front of the tractor, yes? I'm about ready to throw the whole thing out and if someone wants a nicely painted hood they can pick it up at the bottom of the hill.

Some of those grills ya just gotta get rough with. You may have to flatten the from a little and round the edges in some to get it to fit. Working it over a piece of large diameter PVC pipe may help. Don't worry bout the paint it can be touched up later. Wish you were closer so I could get a in person look.

gcbailey wrote:on the radiator supports.... the threaded hole that the hood mounts to goes toward the front of the tractor, yes?

Yes, it does. If you look at the bolt hole in the hood bracket, you will see it is slightly oval, front to back. That does give a LITTLE bit of room to push the tank forward as you tighten the 2 bolts. You might loosen the 4 Truss head screws on the rear of the tank to let things float a bit. Then someone can push on the rear of the tank while you tighten the 2 hex bolts. As you try to fit the grill also have all the dogleg screws a little loose to allow some give there, too.

Carefully check the curvature...it doesn't take much of a mismatch to "shorten" it.

Did you repair the dash panel on the back of the hood or the tabs on the front end of the hood? There has to be a reason for the mal-fitting grille. Leave the 1/4-20 bolts on the back end of the hood loose as well as all the screws on the doglegs until you find the "sweet spot"... you can also leave the bolts loose on the tabs under the hood until you find the right spot for them to rest. Then you'd have to take the grille off of and tighten down the tabs. Basically get the grille where you want it and THEN tighten everything else down...

I had a similar problem with the grille I purchased. But ended up getting to just fit by rebending the outer curves of the grill.....it still wasn't a perfect fit as you can see from this pic. But it works for me.

Charles Patek IIISome days - Chicken.......Some days - FeathersWords to live by....

Jim Becker wrote:He said the original grille won't go back on either. Strongly suggests the trouble is elsewhere.

Agree... there should be enough "wiggle room" in the fitment of the grille that it should fit. Was anything else repaired on this cub's sheet metal or any other of the mounting points prior to trying to get this hood mounted?

Hengy wrote:Did you repair the dash panel on the back of the hood or the tabs on the front end of the hood? There has to be a reason for the mal-fitting grille. Leave the 1/4-20 bolts on the back end of the hood loose as well as all the screws on the doglegs until you find the "sweet spot"... you can also leave the bolts loose on the tabs under the hood until you find the right spot for them to rest. Then you'd have to take the grille off of and tighten down the tabs. Basically get the grille where you want it and THEN tighten everything else down...

I haven't even put the bolts onto the dash panel, just sitting on it. It does seem like the dash is cocked a little, I have another one I can try, probably will try....

Did you do a repair on the dash that is on it? How about the tabs on the hood? Were these repaired or replaced?

If it is just sitting on the dash and is not hooked up, then it isn't the dash that is making the problem. Are the bolts attached to the radiator supports through the tabs on the inside of the hood? Try taking those off and keeping the bolts loose on the doglegs until the grille is mounted. Then cinch down the dogleg bolts (all eight) and the dash mounts. Then remove the grille and hopefully the hood doesn't move. Then try putting the bolts in the radiator supports. You may have to move the supports around...